Fiber winding machine



Jan. 18, 1966 J. E. BALLMER FIBER WINDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 27', 1963 ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1966 J. E. BALLMER FIBER WINDINGMACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27, 1963 JAMES E. BALLMER 2 1NVENTOR. BY

ATTORNEYS nited States Patent 3,229,925 FIBER WINDING MACHINE James E.Ballmer, Chili, N. assignor to Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Rochester,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 27, 1963, Ser. No. 291,072Claims. (Cl. 242-18) This invention relates to Winding of iibers andmore particularly to a liber winding apparatus.

In the manufacturing of winding bers considerable effort is being madeto increase the rate of winding the fiber bundles to reduce the unitcost per bundle. It is also necessary that the bundle be close packed toimprove etliciency of light transmission.

Accordingly this invention provides for continuous winding of a liber toprovide a plurality of ber bundles on a single drum. The device includesthe necessary scanning mechanism to form each individual bundle and alsothe indexing mechanism to sequentially index the drum when the requirednumber of bers are wound in each of the plurality of grooves. Togetherwith this mechanism is the speed changing device for controlling thespeed of winding the ber in accordance with the speed at which the iiberis supplied.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means for winding aplurality of fiber bundles in a continuous operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means for winding aplurality of close packed iiber bundles on a single drum from acontinuous iiber.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for`simultaneously controlling the iiber characteristics and the number ofbers in each bundle to thereby provide a plurality of fiber bundlesproduced in a single uninterrupted operation from an endless ber.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means forcontrolling the speed of Winding of a iiber, the rate of scan of theliber as it is laid down on the drum, and the number of bers in eachbundle on the drum during the ber winding operation from a continuousfiber source.

The objects of this invention are accomplished by providing aninfinitely variable speed -winding drum, and a scanning mechanism toprovide a variable scanning rate and sweep together with a countingmechanism to sequentially index the winding drum when a predeterminednumber of iibers are laid down in each of the plurality of bundles.

The variable speed winding drum is controlled by an infinitely variablespeed transmission intermediate a synchronous motor and the windingdrum. The variable transmission used might be of the conventional typemanufactured which is known as a Graham variable speed transmission. Byproviding a synchronous motor as the source of power a constant initialspeed is delivered. The variation of the transmission gives an accuratecontrol of the speed in revolutions per minute for the winding drum.This'is important because the speed of rotation of the drum is a factorin the control of certain characteristics of the ber as the ber is woundon the drum.

The indexing mechanism as v illustrated is electrical, however, theinventor does not wish to limit the means of accomplishing this functionto the specific disclosure. The indexing mechanism operates through acounter system having a preset counter to control the number of fibersWound in each bundle and the point upon which the drum indexes andwinding of another bundle is initiated.

The scanning arrangement is operated through a speed reductionarrangement intermediate the synchronous motor and the scanning device.A mechanical arrangement of the cam and cam follower is disclosed in thescanning device but the operation could also be accomplished in variousways to provide a variable amplitude of scan and rate of scan.

The indexing motor operates a switch which stops the motor when theindexing screw has moved the drum a distance equal to the center tocenter distance between adjacent grooves. The center to center `distancebetween grooves would depend on the drum being used which is alsointerchangeable. Accordingly, the changing of the drum to a drum havingdifferent groove widths requires a change in the gear ratio operatingthe switch on the end of the indexing screw.

Although it is possible to wind a plurality of bundles on a singlesmooth drum with the machine as illustrated, the bundle is not as closepacked when removed from the drum las the device shown. The V slot hasbeen proposed as the most optimum groove shape to provide the bestbundle pack over a large range of numbers of fibers in each bundle.Although a semi-circular groove might provide an improved bundle packfor one specific bundle size, the flexibility in changing from differentbundle sizes to provide the Voptimum pack would be lacking.

A transverse slot on the outer periphery of the winding drum is providedto permit the removal of the bundles in an easy manner. The bundle maybe tied or clamped and then cut to easily remove the bundle from thedrum. The transverse slot also provides a means to assist a liber tochanging from one groove to another subsequent to indexing of the drumby an indexing motor and indexing screw.

It will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the descriptionand the attached drawings the advantages achieved in the liber windingdevice and method as disclosed.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation of the winding device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified version of a gear change mechanism forproviding the desired speed of scanning on the scanning device. y

FIG. 3 illustrates the front View of the winding device an-d a schematicillustration of the control system.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the scanning device.

Referring to the drawings a method and an apparatus for winding acontinuous fiber is illustrated. Although this device adapts itself-well to winding a glass fiber, it is also adaptable to winding fibersof other materials. The device could be used in a combination forvrewinding fibers or a device `operating simultaneously with drawing ofa ber. This device is directed primarily toward the winding although itoperates with a ber drawing device to advantage in that it has an innitevariable speed winding drum which inherently assists in controlling theber diameter as it is being drawn.

FIG. 1 illustrates a liber winding drum 1 rotatably mounted on aplurality of bearings 2 and driven through a variable speed transmission`3 by a synchronous motor 4. The power transmitting element asillustrated may be chain belt 5 or any positive drive means connected tothe output of the Isynchronous motor 4 and driving into the transmission3. The transmission 3 is variable through infinite speeds by thevariable speed control 6.

The plurality of bearings 2 are supported on the carriage. The carriage7 supports the drum 1 and the variable speed drive transmission 3 and asynchronous motor 4. This whole assembly is supported on a plurality ofrollers 8 rolling within the tracks 9. The tracks 9 are parallel withthe axis of the shaft 10 on the drum 1. The carriage 7 is integral withthe nut 11 which is threaded on its inner periphery to receive theindexing screw 12. The indexing screw 12 is driven by the indexing motor13. The indexing motor 13 is mounted on the base frame 14 and rotates inresponse to energization through the control system. The rotation of theindexing motor 13 is at a slow rate and is controlled by a limit switch44 on the opposite end of the indexing screw 12.

The scanning device 15 is supported on the bracket 16 and driven through-a flexible cable 17. The flexible cable 17 is connected to the driveshaft 10 through the transmission 18 which is primarily a speedreduction transmission. The variation in the speed .rmay be controlledin the transmission 3 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The scanning device includes gear change mechanism to vary the speed ofscan, Iand a cam mechanism with a variable can throw to vary theamplitude of sweep of scanning the arm. This operation will be describedmore specifically in the subsequent paragraphs.

The fiber source 19 supplies a continuous fiber and requires that thespeed of the fiber delivered from the source be accurately controlled.Any predetermined speed may be used to provide the desired bercharacteristics but the speed must be held constant for a givenrequirement of the ber characteristics.

Referring to FIG. 3 the front view of t-he winding device is illustratedtogether with the schematic diagram of the control system. The bersource 19 is illustrated above the winding mechanism and is iixedrelative to the frame 14. The bracket 16 is also xed relative to thebase frame 14. The scanning device 15 is fixed on the bracket 16 andscans at the desired rate. The scanning device 15 is driven by theflexible cable 17 and receives its driving power from the transmission18.

The drum 1 is removable by sliding axially away from the plurality ofbearings 2. The synchronous motor 4 drives through the chain belt to thetransmission 3. A suitable motor control 22 is connected to a source ofelectrical energy and provides a starting means for the synchronousmotor 4.

The indexing motor 13 drives through the indexing shaft 12 in responseto the control system. The arm 24 is connected to the nut 11 and movesthe drum 1 axially in response to actuation of the motor 13. The controlsystem rotates the motor the desired degree of rotation to provide theindexing of the drum a distance equal to the distance between centers Ofadjacent lgrooves. The indexing motor is of a conventional type morecommonly known as a slosyn motor and available from Superior ElectricCompany.

Referring to the schematic portion of FIG. 3 the control panel 30includes circuitry together with the necessary switches and controls asindicated suitable for performing the operations subsequently described.The control panel 30 includes a counter indicator operating in responseto the oscillating movement of the scanning bar 31 as the fiber isguided by the guide 32. The cam 33 is operated in response to themovement of the mechanism within the scanner 15. The cam follower 34 isconnected to the scanning bar 31 -and is biased to a contacting positionon the cam 33 by means of the spring 35. The abutment 36 supports thespring 35 and maintains its position against the scanning bar 31.

The counter switch 37 is s-upported on the scanner housing 38 andtransmits an electrical signal through suitable electrical conductors 39to the control panel 30. Each complete cycle of scan of the scanning bar31 is indicated on the counter indicator 40.

The preset counter control 41 on the control panel 30 permits setting ofthe number of the predetermined count in cycles to be completed by thescanner bar 31 in accordance with preset indicator 42. The scanner bar31 sweeps through a scanning distance controlled by the cam throw of cam33. The preset number on the preset indicator 42 controls the cycles ofsweep completed by the scanning bar. When the counter indicator equalsthe preset indicator, the panel control circuit initiates an electricalimpulse. The impulse is conducted through connectors 43 and the limitswitch 44 and the panel control circuit to connect the source ofelectrical energy l20 through conductors 61 and 60 and energize theindexing meter 13 which causes the 4indexing motor to rotate theindexing screw 12. The indexing screw rotates the gear 46 which in turncounter rotates the gear 47. The indexing cam 48 which is connected tothe gear 47 rotates a complete revolution and opens the limit switch 44to deenergize the motor 13. The limit switch 44 resets and toaccommodate a different groove width of adjacent peripheral grooves onthe winding drum.

The synchronous motor 4 is also connected to a source of electricalenergy 20 which may be the same source as operates the indexing motor. Asuitable control unit.22

which is conventional in its operation is connected inter.-`

mediate the source of electrical energy 20 and the synchronous motor 4.

Referring to FIG. 2 the cam 33 is illustrated connected to the gear 50.The cam 33 and gear 50 may be integral and removable as a unit. The gear50 is driven by the pinion 51 which is nonrotatably xed to the shaft52`.` The shaft 52 is driven by the helical gear 53.` The flex-- iblecable 17 drives the worm gear 54 which supplies the power input for thescanning mechanism 15.l Although the illustration in FIG. 2 is a limiteddisclosure it is merely illustrative and not limiting in its scope.Other reduction gear means and cam throws or cam contours` t might bedevised to give a suitable operation.

The operation of this device will be described in the followingparagraphs. Referring to FIG. 3 a suitable ber source is illustrated forsupplying a continuous liber` 56. The drum 1 winds the fiber at the ratedetermined by the speed of the driving means in accordance with thesupply rate. connected through the Graham transmission 3 to the shaft57. The shafts 57 and 58 are provided with a sprocket to accommodate alink belt arrangement to transmit power from the synchronous motor 4 tothe shaft 57. Any suitable positive drive is satisfactory. Thesynchronous motor 4 is brought to speed by the motor con.- trol 22connected to a source of electrical energy 20.1 The Graham transmission3 then is set to provide the yproper shaft speed on the drum shaft 10through the use of the variable speed control 6. The speed at which themotor operates is constant, however, the drum speed may be varied toprovide a control of the ber characteristic which is being received fromthe source 19. It is understood that control of the ber characteristicsis not solely` dependent on the `speed of the winding drum, however,control of the speed of the winding drum is necessary.

It is pointed out that the source 19 may be used for supplying bers ofcoated glass, metallic, ceramic, plastic and other materials.

The scanning device 15 operates to scan a limited Width in FIG. 2together with the transmission 18 `control the i rate of scan relativeto the speed of rotation of the drum 1. As the ilexible cable 17 rotatesthe worm gear54,l the The shaft 10 connected to the drum 1 ist` gears 53and 50 rotate to drive the cam 33. The cam follower 34 engages the cam33 in response to the spring 35. The guide 32 receives the ber andcauses a scanning action of the ber on the surface of the drum 1.

The V slots forming the plurality of grooves on the drum 1 asillustrated are approximately 60. The 60 groove is considered to be thebest groove to provide a close packed ber bundle over a wide range ofbers per bundle. It is understood that the drum 1 might be formed with aflat peripheral surface and any number of bers could be wound in eachbundle. The closeness of pack of the ber bundles which affects the totale'iciency of light transmission, or transmission of energy is aiected ifthe closeness of pack is reduced. It is also understood that asemi-circular groove might be more suitable if one size of bundle wereused and only a predetermined number were wound in each of the bundles.

The indexing mechanism operates in response to the control system. Thepreset number is set on the preset indicator which indicates the totalnumber of cycles through which the scanning bar 31 completes. When thecounter indicator equals the preset indicator number which is controlledby the cam switch 37 then the indexing operation is initiated. Theindexing motor is energized by a signal passing through the limit switch44 through the indexing motor control in panel 30 which connects themotor 13 to the source of electrical energy 20 and energizes theindexing motor 13. The indexing motor 13 rotates the indexing shaft 14to rotate the gears 46 and 47 and the limit switch cam 48. As the limitswitch cam 48 opens the limit switch 44 the indexing motor isdeenergized. The drum is rotated until the ber transfers to the adjacentgroove in the transverse slot. The lateral component of force causes theber to align itself in the adjacent groove when the drum is indexed. Thecounter indicator resets at zero and initiates a new cycle of counting.The preset indicator remains at the preset number unless reset to someother number. The number of revolutions of the winding drum per cycle atthe scanning arm is controlled by the gear ratio between shaft and cam33. The gear ratio in the scanner 15 is changeable to accomplish thischange in ratio of drum rotations per scan. The ber characteristic mayalso be Varied by a variable speed control 6 of transmission 3.

In this manner the total bers in each of the bundles which are wound ineach of the plurality of grooves is controlled. The process is automaticto provide a plurality of bundles wound in the plurality of grooves onthe drum. The process set forth in this invention includes the stepsoperated as described in previous paragraphs by the apparatus as shown.A ber is supplied by a suitable source and may be simultaneously drawn,or supplied from a previously Wound bundle. The ber is wound on aplurality of grooves on a winding drum. A scanning device simultaneouslyscans a limited longitudinal portion of the surface on the drum toprovide a close packed bundle of bers as the drum rotates. The indexingof the drum continuously controls the number of bers in each bundle. Thedriving means for the winding drum provides the speed of rotation of thedrum to simultaneously control the ber characteristic.

The device as illustrated and described sets forth the preferredembodiment of this invention. It is understood that variations of thisembodiment might be devised which fall within the scope of the inventionwhich are covered by the attached claims.

I claim:

1. A ber Winding device comprising, a source of ber forming materialproviding a deformable ber, a ber winding drum rotatably mounted on asupporting means and constructed and arranged with :a plurality ofperipheral grooves for receiving a ber from said source, a variablespeed driving means mounted `on said supporting means and connected tosaid drum for driving said drum at a speed to provide a predeterminedcharacter- 6 t istic `thickness of ber drawn from said source, scanningmeans mounted on said supporting means driven by said driving meansguiding said ber to repetitively scan at least ,a portion of one of saidgrooves on said winding drum for a predetermined number of cycles, acontrol system including a counter means connected to said scanningmeans for counting the cycles of scan of said scanning means and anadjustable preset indicator connected to said counter means foradjustably presetting the number of cycles said scanning means will scaneach groove of said drum, an indexing means mounted on said supportingmeans connected to said control system for changing the relative axialposition between said drum relative to said scanning means when thepreset number of scanning cycles have been completed for one of saidgrooves to thereby subsequently scan another groove on said windingdrum.

2. A ber winding device comprising, a source of an endless ber, a berwinding drum rotatably mounted` on a supporting means dening a pluralityof V-shaped peripheral grooves about its outer periphery, driving meansconnected to said drum for driving said drum at a predetermined rate ofspeed, scanning means mounted on said supporting means driven by saiddriving means and guiding said ber from said source of ber andrepetitively scanning at least a portion of the width of one of saidgrooves on said drum for a predetermined number of cycles, a controlsystem including a counter means connected to said scanning means tocount the number of scanning cycles made by said scanning means withrelation to one of said grooves and an adjustable preset indicatorconnected to said counter for indicating the number of scanning cyclesto be completed for each groove, an indexing means supported on saidsupporting means and connected to said control system and mechanicallyconnected to said drum for changing the axial position of said windingdrum relative to said scanning means a dimension equal to the distancebetween groove centers on said winding drum to thereby cause saidscanning means to subsequently scan an adjacent groove when the presetnumber :of scanning cycles have been completed for tone of said grooves.

3. A ber winding device comprising in combination, a source ofdeformable material for forming an endless ber, a ber winding drumhaving a grooved periphery rotatably mounted on a supporting means forreceiving said ber on its outer periphery, a motor connected through avariable speed transmission to said drum and mounted on said supportingmeans for driving said drum at the desired speed to control the bercharacteristic, a scanning means mounted on said supporting meansguiding said ber and repetitively scanning a groove of said drum apredetermined number of cycles during winding of a ber bundle on saiddrum, a control system including a counter indicator indicating thenumber of cycles of scan completed by said scanning means for each berbundle being wound in each groove of said drum and an adjustable presetindicator connected to said counter indicator for presetting the numberof cycles sard scanning means will scan in winding a bundle, indexingmeans on said supporting means connected to said winding drum to shiftthe relative position between said winding drum and said scanning means,a control circuit connected to said control system and to said indexingmeans to initiate a signal when said two indicators are equal andinitiate indexing of said indexing means to thereby control the numberof cycles of scan of said scanning means per each bundle wound on saidwinding drum.

4. A ber winding device for ,automatically winding more than two berbundles comprising, a source of an endless ber, a ber winding drumrotatably mounted on a supporting means adjacent to said source, a motordriving a variable speed transmission mounted on the supporting meansand drivingly connected to said drum to drive said drum at the desiredspeed, a scanning means mounted on said supporting means guiding saidber and repetitively axially scanning a limited portion of the peripheryof said drum for a predetermined number of cycles for winding a liberbundle, a control system including a counter indicator connected to saidscanning means for counting the cycles of scan of said scanning meansfor each bundle wound and an adjustable preset indicator connected tosaid counter indicator for presetting the number of cycles said scanningmeans will scan for each bundle, indexing means on said supporting meansconnected to said control system and connected to said drum for indexingthe relative position between said scanning means and said drum when thepreset number of cycles on said preset indicator is equal to the cyclesindicated on the counter indicator to thereby terminate Winding of onebundle and initiate winding of another bundle at a point axially spacedon the periphery of said winding drum.

5. A ber winding device comprising, a source of an endless fiber, awinding drum rotatably mounted on a supporting means dening a pluralityof peripheral grooves for receiving a plurality of ber bundles, avariable speed driving means mounted on said supporting means anddrivingly connected to the drive shaft of said winding drum, scanningmeans on said supporting means repetitively scanning at least a portionof one of said grooves a predetermined number of cycles, a transmisratiobetween said drive shaft and said scanning means a control systemincluding a counter indicator connected:

to said scanning means for indicating the number ofy cycles of scanscompleted by said scanning means in winding each bundle and anadjustable preset indicator for adjustably setting the number ofscanning cycles to` be completed by said scanning means during `Windingof the bundle in each groove, an indexing means mounted on saidsupporting means connected to said control vsystem for indexing therelative position of said winding drum With respect to said scanningmeans upon comple-` tion by said scanning means the preset number ofcycles indicated by said preset indicator to thereby continuously Wind apredetermined number of windings to form a fiber bundle in each of theplurality of grooves of said winding drum.

References Cited `by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,439,645 4/1948 Bolton. 2,772,054 ll/ 1956 Herele et al. 242-18 2,779,545 l/ 1957Hauck et al. 242-25. 2,863,612 12/1958 Sherwin 242-18 MERY/1N STEIN,Primary Examiner.

1. A FIBER WINDING DEVICE COMPRISING A SOURCE OF FIBER FORMING MATERIALPROVIDING A DEFORMABLE FIBER, A FIBER WINDING DRUM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ONA SUPPORTING MEANS AND CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED WITH A PLURALITY OFPERIPHERAL GROOVES FOR RECEIVING A FIBER FROM SAID SOURCE, A VARIABLESPEED DRIVING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND CONNECTED TOSAID DRIM FOR DRIVING SAID DRUM AT A SPEED TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINEDCHARACTERISTIC THICKNESS OF FIBER DRAWN FROM SAID SOURCE, SCANNING MEANSMOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVING MEANS GUIDINGSAID FIBER TO REPETITIVELY SCAN AT LEAST A PORTION OF ONE OF SAIDGROOVES ON SAID WINDING DRIM FOR A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF CYCLES, ACONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING A COUNTER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SCANNINGMEANS FOR COUNTING THE CYCLES OF SCAN OF SAID SCANNING MEANS AND ANADJUSTABLE PRESET INDICATOR CONNECTED TO SAID COUNTER MEANS FORADJUSTABLE PRESETTING THE NUMBER OF CYCLES SAID SCANNING MEANS WILL SCANEACH GROOVE OF SAID DRUM, AN INDEXING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTINGMEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CHANGING THE RELATIVE AXIALPOSITION BETWEEN SAID DRUM RELATIVE TO SAID SCANNING MEANS WHEN THEPRESET MEMBER OF SCANNING CYCLES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED FOR ONE OF SAIDGROOVES TO THEREBY SUBSEQUENTLY SCAN ANOTHER GROOVE ON SAID WINDINGDRUM.